Telegraph-repeater.



i. u. wwwa. TELEGRAPH HEPEATER.

` M APPLICATION FILED AUCLZH, 19M- Ll f.,

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A. D. TAYLOR.

ELEGRAPH REPEATER. APPLscATmM FILED M1628, i914.

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Paten'md Ian. M, 19N.

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FFWFL ALSTOM D. TAYLDR, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA..

TELEGRAPH-REPEATER.

Application filed August 28, 19M.

To @ZZ 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, Ats'ron D. TAYLOR, a citizen ot the United States,and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska,have invented certain n ew and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Fepeaters, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to the art ot telegr phy, and particularly totelegraph` repeaters, or instruments for automatically retransmittingtelegraphic signals trom one circuit to another. lt is the object ci myinvention to provide in an instrument ot this class means hy which theoperators at all stations on the circuits connected hy the repeater mayexchange signals hy operations ident-ical with those that would loerequired if all were on the same circuit; to provide means by which therepeating oi the signals is effected solely by energy derived trom themain or line-circuits, so that it is unnecessary to supply a localsource or sources of energy at the repeating-station; and to provideconvenient means -for separatirngor cutting apart the line-circuitsconnected with the repeating` instrument, so that an operator at therepeating-station may exchange signals with operators on eitherline-circuit independently of the other, and thus adjust the instrumentfor ciiicient operation relatively to each of the line-circuits withoutinterference with the other. Further and more specific objects of myinvention will he set forth hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a schematic diagram of thepreferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 2 is a partial side view ofthe repeatinginstrument employed in the apparatus shown in Fig. l, a

portion of the view being a longitudinal vertical section, Fig. 3 is apartial planview ott the instrument with portions lorolen away to showthe underlying parts, Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on theplane ot the line of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of thetumbler-levers, Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a moditied and simplerembodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 is a similar diagram showing theoperation of certain parts ot the same mechanism, and 8 is a sche-maticdiagram of a further modification orv simple torm of the invention. I

ln the construction oi'.' telegraphic repeat- Specication of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan.. 1li, 19i9.

serial no. 859,106. y

ing mechanism it is necessary to provide in each of two line-circuits adevice such as a relay, which is connected with the other linecircuit soas to open and close said circuit in accordance with increase ordecrease of electric current in the circuit by which the relay orrepeating device is operated. Yet a simple inter-connection ot twocircuits by ordinary relays is inoperative, for the reason that when onecircuit is opened, as by an operator at a distant line-station, therelay at the repeating-station will open the other line-circuit, and therelay controlled oy the latter circuit will in turn open the firstcircuit at the repeating-station, so that the distant operator cannotagain close the circuit on which he is working. My invention providessimple and direct means tor preventing opening of the sending-circuit atthe repeating-station, except when the sending of the message isintentionally interrupted by an operator on the receivingcircuit.

For convenience in the following descriptions, the two main orline-circuits to he operatively connected by the repeating instrumentwill he designated as the east line and west line, and the conductors bywhich said circuits enter the repeating-station will he indicated byreference characters E and W, respectively. As nearly all of thestructural elements of the repeating instruments are in duplicate, thepairs ot corresponding parts will be indicated by like referencenumbers, and to distinguish between said paired or duplicate parts thenumerals referring to one of them will he provided with indices In thestructure represented in Figs. 6 and 7 there are provided thetransmitter-magnets l, l', having armatures 2, 2', carried by levers 3,3 which are pivoted respectively at 4t, 4 and have springs 5, 5 arrangedto pull the armatures away from the poles of the transmitter-magnetswhen the same are deenergized. Stop-screws 6, 6 limit the movements ofthe armatures toward the transmitter-magnets. Adjacent to the upper endsof the armature-levers 3, 3 are the repeatingkeys 7. 7 which are pivotedat 8,8 and have springs 9, 9 which. normallyy hold the contact-pins atthe upper ends of the keys against the contact-screws 10, 10. The parte`are arranged so that movement of the armature 2 away from thetransmitter-magnet 1 will actuate the repeating-key 7 and disengage thesame from the contact-screw 10, while similar movement of-the armature 2will actuate the repeating-key 7 in like manner. The line E is connectedwith the winding of the transmitter-magnet 1, thence to thecontact-screw 10, and from the repeating-key 7 to ground Gr. The line Nis similarly connected through the winding of magnet 1, tocontact-serew10', repeating-key 7 and thence to ground. It should be noted that theends of the armature-levers 3, 3 are not normally in contact with therepeating-keys, so that a slight initial movement of each armature isnecessary before the respective repeating-key is actuated to disengagethe same from its contact-screw. The described mechanism may be regardedas comprising a pair of direct-repeating transmitters, each actuated byenergy from one line-circuit and being adapted to open and close theother lline-circuit in accorda-nce with Huctuations of current in theline-circuit from which it is operated. On the armature-levers 3, 3 arelugs 11, 11', and adjacent to said lugs are L-shaped tumblerlevers 12,12 which are pivoted on axes 13, 13. To the downwardly-extending arms ofthe tumbler-levers are pivotally connected the upper ends of diagonalrods 14, 14. The central parts of said rods are pivotally connected withlinks 15, 15 which are hung on small eccentrics 16 that are carried on atransverse shaft 17 disposed midway between the transmitter-maguets. Thelower ends of the rods 14, 14 are each provided with a pair ofadjusting-nuts 18, 19 and 18', 19, and, when the eccentrics 1G are inthe position shown, the portions of the rods between said pairs of nutsextend through slots in the lower portions of the armaturelevers. Byrotation ofthe shaft 17 the eccentrics may be turned so as to lower therods to the positions shown by dotted lines` in Fig. 6, at which thenuts are not engageable by the armature-levers, and the tumblermechanism thus made inoperative.

The operation of the mechanism will be apparent by reference to Fig. 7,in which are shown the positions of the parts assumed when the westline-circuit is opened, as by an operator thereon preparatory to thesending of a message, while the east line-circuit is closed at allline-stations and is in condition for receiving messages from therepeating-station. The opening of the line W causes a decrease ofenergization of the transmitter-magnet 1, so that the armature 2 isreleased and is pulled away from the magnet by the spring 5. At thebeginning of said movement of the armature and the lever 3 the latterengages the nut 19 on the rod 14 and the tumbler-lever 12 is turned onits axis so that the end of the horizontal arm of said lever passes upin front of the lug 11.

on the armature-lever 3. By further movel ment of the lever 3 therepeating-key 7 is engaged and actuated so as to open the eastline-circuit at the Contact 10. When the east line is opened at thecontact 10, however, the lever 3 is prevented by the tumblerlever 12from moving far enough to open the west line at the contact 10, and thewest line-thus remains intact through the repeating-station, so thatwhen the operator on said line closes his key the circuit isreestablished and all the parts of the apparatus return to normalposition. The space between the nuts 18 and 19 may be so adjusted thatwhen the magnet 1 is renergized (the parts being in the positions shownin Fig. 7) the lever 3 can move far enough to permit closing of the eastline-circuit at the contact 10 before the nut 18 is engaged to actuatethe tumbler-lever 12 to normal position. By the closing of the eastline-circuit the magnet 1 is energized and moves the lever 3 far enoughto disengage the lug 11 from the tumbler-lever 12, so that there is nodrag or friction between said lug and the end of the tumbler-leverduring the returning of the latter to normal position. Should the lever3 be moving with such rapidity as to engage the nut 18 before the magnet1 becomes energized, the momentum of said lever 3 and its armature willbe suflicient to move the tumbler-lever 12 even though the lug 11 isengaging the same. Should an operator in the east line desire tointerrupt the niessage being received from the repeating-station, hewould merely open the circuit at his sending-key, after which when thesending operator on the west line closed the west circuit at hisstation, said circuit would immediately be opened at therepeating-station, and the west operator could no longer control theline.

The repeating mechanism described may be operated satisfactorily underfavorable Conditions, as on short lines where there is littleline-leakage and where there is a comparatively strong current availablefor the energization of the transmitter-magnets 1 and 1; but, owing tothe fact that the armature-liners which actuate the repeatingkeys 7, 7are also employed to actuate the tumbler-levers, the mechanism is notsuiiiciently sensitive to be desirable for use unY der unfavorableoperating conditions. ln Fig. 8 there is illustrated a more sensitivemechanism, wherein the tumbler-levers are not operated directly by thearmature-levers.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the transmitter-magnets, thearmature-levers. the repeating-keys, and the contacts therefor, and thecircuit connections of the east and west lines, are substantiallyidentical with those already described in connection with the structureshown in Figs. G and 7.

and the like parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Thetumblerlevers 121, 121' are controlled by liiovements of a horizontaltumbler-rod 141 which is supported on vertically-extending links 151which are pivotally connected with the ends oit the rod and extenddownwardly to bearings 152 on a stationary base-member. The ends of thetumbler-rod extend up in front or' the poles of the transmitter-magnets,and are provided with armatures 142, 142' which are thus held adjacentto the magnet-poles. At the center of the tumbler-rod is adownwardly-extending arm 143 which is engageable with stop-screws 144 tolimit horizontal movements of the rod. The tumbler-levers are pivoted onfixed axes 131, 131', and the downwardly-extending arms of said leversnormally engage the pins 191, 191 on the upper side of the tumbler-rod.Movement oi the tumbler-rod in either direction from an 'intermediateposition, as to the dotted position thereof shown, raises the horizontalarm ot the tumbler-lever at the end toward which the rod moves, so thatsaid arm of the lever passes up in front ot the lug 111, or 111' as thecase may be, thereby preventing movement of the respectivearmature-lever sutlicient to open the repeating-key controlled thereby,while the other tumbler-lever is lowered and permits free movement ofthe other armature-lever. Referring to the posi.'- tions of the partsshown by dotted lines, the operation of the mechanism will be apparent.When the west line is opened, and before the armature-lever 3 moves farenough to open the east line-circuit at the contact 10, the tumbler-rodis moved to the dotted position by the pull of the magnet 1 on thearmature 142, said magnet 1 at this moment still being energized. Thenwhen the east line-circuit is opened at the contact 10, the lever 3 isprevented by the tumblerlever 121 :trom n'loving sufficiently to actuatethe repeating-key 7" which controls the west line, and said line is thuskept intact through the repeating-station. As before, the sending of themessage by the operator on the west line can be interrupted by anoperator on the east line opening1 said line at his station, becauseafter such opening of the east line the position of the tumbler-rod willbe reversed immediately upon the closing of the west line for asuiicient time to energize the magnet 1'. For rendering the tumblermechanism inoperative when desired,` there is provided a bridge-bar 161which is connected by a screw 171 with the trame on which thetumbler-levers are pivoted. rlhe bridge-bar is normally held in theraised position shown, by means of a spring 172 disposed around thescrew beneath the bar. lBy turning the screw the bar may be pressed downfo a posi-tion at which the endsthereoil will engage the heelportions ofthe tumblerlevers and raise the horizontal arms of said levers above thelugs 111, 111', so that free movements of both of the armature-levers 3and 3' is permitted.

ln the preferred embodiment of my invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to5, inclusive, the operation and structure ot the more important parts ofthe mechanism are substantially the same asin the simpler forms of theinvention hereinbefore described; but various accessory mechanism ismade use of which increases the sensitiveness of the instrument andenables its use on long lines and under the most adverse operatingconditions.

In the repeating instrument, shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, there isprovided a baseplate 20 of insulating material, which is supported on ahollow metal base 21. Along the rearward side of the base-plate 2() aredisposed a series of terminal-connectors or binding-posts 22, 22', 23,23', 24, 24', 25, 25', 26 and 26', of which the electrical connectionswill be described hereinafter. Jadjoining the front side of thebase-plate are arranged a pair of triple-pole double-transmissionswitches, each comprising three pii-iotally-mounted switch-blades,movable simultaneously into contact with either of two sets ofcontact-posts. The switch-blades are indicated by the numerals 27, 28,29, 27, 28 and 29'; the one set ot contact-posts are designated as 33,34, 35, 33', 34' and 35' and the other` set of contact-posts as 36, 37,38, 36', 37 and 38. rThe blades oit one switch are connected to eachother by a bar 39 ot insulating material provided with a handle 40, theother switch having a like insulating connecting-bar 39 and handle 40'.

Over the central part of the insulating base-plate 20 a metal bed-plate41 is supported by short posts 42 which rest upon and are secu red tothe base plate. At the ends of the bed-plate are mounted the verticalstud-posts 43, 43', and at positions intermediate between said ypostsand the transverse Center-line of the bed are secured the transversevertical frame-plates 44, 44' which support the upper frame-plate 45. Onthe upper frame-plate 45 the key-posts 46, 47, 46 and 47 are mounted,being secured to but insulated from said frame-plate. The verticalframe-plates, 44, 44' have circular openings through them, through whichthe inner ends of the transmitter-magnets l, 1 extend so as to hesupported thereby. To the yokes 48, 48' of the transmitter-magnets aresecured studs 49, 49', which extend through openings in the stud-posts.Coil springs 50, 50' are disposed around the studs between the yokes andthe posts, and the outer threaded ends of the studs have nuts 51, 51'thereon which may be turned to adjust the magnets longitudinally towardand away from their respective armatures. The transmitter-magnetarmatures 2, 2 are formed integrally withl the armaturelevers 3, 3 andthe latter extend upwardly through transverse slots in the frame-plate45 between the pairs of keyposts, the levers being pivoted on screws 52,52 which extend in from the longitudinal edges of the plate 45, as shownclearly in Fig. 4. Connecting-cords from the armature-levers to thetension-springs 5, 5 pass through openings in the lower parts of thekey-posts 47, 47, and the outer ends of said springs are connected withshafts 53, 53 which are rotatably mounted on the studposts and may beturned by means of the wheels 54, 54 to adjust the tension of thesprings.

On the key-posts 47,47 are pivoted the repeating `keys 7, 7, the postshaving notched lugs thereon, and the pivot-pins 8, 8 extending into thenotches, as shown, so that the keys may be readily lifted out andreplaced. The contact-screws 10, 10 extend through insulated bushings atthe upper ends of the posts, and the contactpins at the upper` ends ofthe keys are normally held in engagement with said screws by means ofcompression springs 90, 90, which engage the keys slightly below thepivotal axes thereof, and of which the degree of compression may beregulated by screws 91, 91', arranged as shown. Stopscrews 55, 55 limitmovement of the keys away from the contact-screws 10, 10.

On the key-posts 46, 46 are mounted the shunt-keys 56, 56 of which thestructure is substantially identical with that of the repeating keys;springs 57 57 being arranged to press the upper ends of the keys towardcontact-screws 58, 58 which extend through insulated bushings at theupper ends of the key-post; and stop-screws 59, 59 being arranged tolimit movement of the keys away from the contact-screws.

The upper ends of the armature-levers 3, 3 extend between the lowei`ends ofthe respective pairs of shunt-keys and repeating-keys, and areprovided with pins of insulating material for engagement with the keysso that electrical connection between the keys and armature-levers isprevented. The parts are so arranged and adjusted that normally, or whenthe transmitter-magnets are energized so as to pull the armaturesthereof toward the same, the upper ends of the armature-levers engagethe shunt-keys, pressing them against their respective stopscrews anddisengaging them from the contact screws at the upper ends of thekeyposts. lhen the transmitter-magnets are denergized and thearmature-levers are free to move, the springs 5, 5 pull the upper endsof the armature-levers toward the repeating-keys, pressing them againstthe stop-screws 55, 55 and disengagingthem from the contact-screws 10,10. It should be noted that the transmitter-magnet 1 controls the keys 7and 56, while the transmitter-magnet 1 controls the keys 7 and 56,

On the central part of the bed-plate 41, midway between thetransmitter-magnets, are mounted the pivot-posts 60. In the upper endsof said posts are screws 61 between which is pivotally mounted thetumbler-shaft 62. On the central part of said shaft is secured an arm 63which extends upwardly through a transverse slot in the upperframe-plate 45, and carries at its upper end a double-armature 64.Tumbler-magnets 65, 65 are arranged so that the poles thereof are inproximity to said armature, the said magnets resting on thebase-positions of the key-posts 46, 47, 46 and 47. The yokes of thetumbler-magnets have studs 66, 66 secured thereto, which extendhorizontally through openings in the upper ends of the stud-posts 43,43, and on their.

outer threaded ends are provided with the adjusting-nuts 67, 67. Springs68, 68 engage shoulders on the studs, so that by turning the nuts 67, 67the magnets may be adj usted longitudinally toward and away from thearmature, similarly to the transmittermagnets. Movement of the arm 63 islimited by stop-screws 69, 69 which extend through the plate 45 from theends thereof, as shown.

Pivoted on the tumbler-shaft 62 are tumbler-levers 122, 122, having armswhich extend diagonally toward the armatures 2, 2 and terminate adjacentto lugs 112, 112 on on said armatures. The tumbler-levers also haveshort arms which extend vertically adjacent to the arm 63 and carryscrews 70, 70 of which the ends normally engage said arm 63, being heldagainst the same by means of a flat spring 71 which is secured on thelower end of the arm 63, and of which the end-portions engage and pressupwardly the diagonal arms of the tumbler-levers.

Above the diagonal arms of the tumblerlevers are cams 72, 72 carried onshafts 73, 73 which are revolubly mounted in lugs which extend down fromthe plate 45. B v turning the shafts the cams may be moved to positionsat which they will engage and depress the diagonal arms of thetumblerlevers, bending the spring 71, and moving the stop-screws 70, outof engagement with the arm- 63. When the tumbler-levers are depressed bythe cams, as described, the ends of the diagonal arms are held atpositions such that neither of said arms can be engaged by the lugs 112,112 during the. movements of the armature-levers necessary to actuatethe respective repeating-keys. When the tumbler-levers are in normalposition with respect to the arm 63, movement of the armature 64 towardthe magnet 65 tilts thetumbler-levers about the axis of the shaft 62, sothat the end of the lever 122 is moved to a position slightly below thelug 'IOR naenaflv tumbler-lever 122' and lowers the end ci" thetumbler-lever 122, so that the end of the latter is below the lug- 112and permits tree movement of the armature-lever 3, while movement ofthev armature-lever 3' is prevented by the tumbler-lever 122'.

1n addition to the main coils of the tumbler-magnets 65, 65', saidmagnets have auX- iliary coils or windings 74, 74' which are connectedwith condensers 75, 75' as hereinafter described, the condensers beingconveniently located in the base of the repeatinginstrument beneath theplate 20, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Referring now especially to Fig. 1, there is representeddiagrammatically all of the parts of the repeating instrumentimmediately concerned in the operation thereof, together with certainauxiliary mechanism located at the repeating-station, and also theessential mechanism located at the terminalstations of the east and4west lines. The said mechanism located at the east and westterminal-stations comprises the relays 76, 76', the operators keys 77,77', generators 7 8, 78', and ground connections g, g'. The auxiliarymechanism located at the repeating-station comprises the operators keys7 9 79', spring-jacks 80, 80', wedges 81, 81' for engaging said jacks,and shunt-relays 1t, R' which are connected with said wedges and therepeating instrument as hereinafter described. There may also beprovided at the repeatingstation a pair of ordinary sounders 82, 82' andlocal batteries B, B for operating the same. The shunt-relays R, t'comprise electromagnets 88, 83 having pivoted armatures 84,84 adapted toactuate keys 85, 85', the arrangement of the keys being similar to thatot' the repeating-keys actuated by the transmitter-magnets. Suitablesprings are provided, as shown, for pulling the relay-armatures awayfrom the magnets toward stop-screws therefor, and for pulling the keys85, 85 toward contactscrews 86, 86'. Stop-screws are also provided forlimiting` movements of the keys away from the contact-screws 86, 86'.rlhe adjoining ends of the armatures and keys are provided withcontact-pins through which the keys and armatures are electricallyconnected with each other when the armatures are drawn toward themagnets. The armature 84' and key 85 are shown in the po-sitions assumedwhen the magnet 83' is not energized, and the armature 84 and key 85 areshown in the positeries B, B' are employed, the same are contionsassumed when the magnet 83 is energized, although the illustratedconnections of the latter instrument are such that the magnet thereoilwould not be energized. Said discrepant illustration is employed inorder to show the parts of one of the shuntrelays in position oppositeto those of the other.

The contact-screw l86 of the shunt-relay R is electrically connectedwith the bindingpost 23 of the repeating instrument, the armature 84 isconnected with one side of the wedge 81, the other side is connectedwith one coil-terminal of the magnet 83, and the other coil-terminal isconnected with the key 85. The shunt-relay R is similarly connected with-the Wedge 81' and the binding-post 23 on the repeating instrument.

When the sounders 82, 82' and local batnected, respectively, in seriesbetween the pairs of binding-posts 25, 26 and 25', 26', as representedby dotted lines in Fig. 1. The binding-posts 25 and 26 are connectedwith the switch-contacts 87 and 36', the bindingposts 25 and 26' beingsimilarly connected with the switch-contacts 37 and 36.

Referring now to the line-circuit connections of the apparatus, when thetriple-pole cut-apart switches are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 andthe shunt-relay wedges 81, 81' are not inserted in the jacks 80, 80',the east line-circuit may be traced as follows: Beginning with theground g of the east terminal-station, the line connects serially thegenerator 78, operators key 77 and the relay 76 at the terminal-station;thence passes to the repeating-station and connects serially theoperators key 79, the jack 80, binding-post 22, transmitter-magnet coil1, tumbler-magnet coil 65, switch-contact 34, switch-blade 28,contact-screw 10, repeatingkey 7, switch-blade 27, switch-contact 33,and binding-post 24, thence passing to ground Gr. Under the conditionsstated, the west line-circuit may be traced through the correspondingbut opposite parts of the apparatus. 1n addition to the before men-`tionedconnections. the shunt-key 56' is connected by a conductor a withone terminal of the tumbler-magnet coil 65, the contactscrew 58 isconnected by a conductor b with the other terminal of the coil 65, andthe terminals of the coil 65' are similarly connected with the shunt-key56 and contact- 120 screw 58 by conductors a' and 7). Thus, when theshunt-keys are in the closed positions thereof, the same short-circuitthe respective coils 65, 65', and when said shuntkeys are in the normalor open positions thereof, shown in Fig. 2, the east and westline-circuits will pass, respectively, through the coils 65 and 65. Oneterminal of the coil 74 is connected by a conductor c with therepeating-key 7, the other terminal of said coil is connected by aconductor l with one side of the condenser 75, and the other side of thesaid condenser is connected with the contact-screw 10. The coil 74,condenser 75, contact-screw lOf and repeatingkey 7 are similarlyconnected with each other by means of the conductors c and CZ.

`When the shunt-relay wedges are inserted in the jacks therefor theline-circuits are thereby looped through the shunt-relays, andalternative paths are provided for the main-line currents accordingly asthe shuntrelay magnets are or are not energized suii- Ciently to movetheir armatures toward them. The path provided in one instance isindicated at the relay R, the closed line extending from one side of thewedge 81 to the coil 83thence to key S5, thence to armature 84, andthence to the opposite side of` the wedge 81. The alternative path isindicated at the relay R, the closed line in this case extending fromone side of the wedge 81 to the coil 83, thence to the key 85', thencethrough the contact-screw S6 to the binding-post 23. The binding-posts23, 28, are connected, respectively, by conductors a and w with theportions of the line-circuits extending between the transmitter-magnet land tumbler-magnet 65, and between the transmitter-magnet l andtumbler-magnet Thus it will be seen that, when the shunt-relays are inuse and the keys thereof are in closed position, the line-'circuits willnot pass through the transmitter-magnets, and when the shunt-relay keysare in open position the line-circuits will pass through thetransmitter-magnets. The shunt-relay magnets are preferably wound to alower resistance than the transmitter-magnets, and said relays areconstructed and adjusted -so as to be operable with a minimum variationof current through the coils thereof.

The operation of the mechanism as a whole may now be clearly understood.Under favorable operating conditions, as Where there is no excessiveline-leakage, the shuntrelays need not be made use of, and the operationof the mechanism will be first described without reference to saidrelays, and assuming that the wedges 81, 8l are both withdrawn from therespective acks 80, S0. In the normal condition of the apparatus, boththe east and west line-circuits are closed, energy for the respectivecircuits being derived from the generators 78, 7S at the east and westterminal-stations. In the repeating instrument the transmitter-magnetsare both energized, causing the respective shunt-keys 56, 56 to be heldin open osition, and allowing the repeating-keys 7" to remain in closedposition. The tumbler-magnets are both energized, and the arm 63 of thetumbler-mechanism may be in contactwith either of the stop-screws 69,

69', the tumbler-magnets being so adjusted and the tumbler-levers beingso balanced that while both line-circuits are closed said arm 63 willremain indiscrimmately in either position t0 which it may have beenmoved. The repeating-keys, being closed, furnish connections through thecoils 74, 74 between the opposite sides of thc condensers 75, 75', sothat normally said condensers are not charged.

Assuming that the operators key 77 at the west terminal-station beopened, as shown in Fig. l, or that an operator at any station on thewest line-circuit opens said circuit in a similar manner, the immediateeffect of such opening of the circuit will be a decrease in the amountof current flowing through the various instruments in said circuit; andthe current will continue to decrease (with greater or less rapidity,according to lthe resistance, leakage, capacity, inductance, and otherfactors controlling the flow of current) until the circuit is againclosed, or until it has been open a sufficient time for all current tocease. It will be understood, of course, that, in practice, telegraphicsignals are transmitted by fluctuations of the current in the circuit,rather than by complete cessation and reestablishment of the flow ofelectrical energy therein; and that in any case the operating conditionsmust be such that all instruments in the circuit will be operated withsufficient rapidity for the transmission of the signals, by thefluctuations of current caused in' the circuit by the opening andclosing thereof at the sending instrument.

Immediately, therefore, upon the opening of the operators key 77, theenergization of the transmitter-magnet l and tumblermagnet 65 will beginto decrease, and two actions will result therefrom, as follows: First,the armature 64C will be actuated by the tumbler-magnet 65 (which atthis moment is still fully energized by the east linecurrent) and thetumbler-mechanism thereby tilted to the position shown in F ig. l, whichmay be designated as the cwest-control position thereof; or, if thetumbler mechanism is already in said position, it will be so retained bythe then predominant attraction of the magnet 65 upon the armature 64.Second, the armature-lever 3 is released, and during its movement awayfrom the magnet it first permits the shuntkey 56 to engage thecontact-screw 58, and then actuates the repeating-key 7 to open the eastline-circuit at the contact-screw l0. lVhen the east line-circuit isthus opened, the armature-lever 3 of the magnet l is released, but saidarmature-lever is prevented by the tumbler-lever 122 from movingl su asto open the west line-circuit at the repeating-key 7', and said circuitis thus kept intact through the repeatingstation.

lll)

Lesina? 1When the east line-circuit is opened by the repeating-key 7 thetumbler-magnet 65 becomes denergized, of course, but thetumbler-mechanism, being then in the west-control position, remains insaid position in the absence of an actuating force tending to move it.At the moment of opening the repeating-key 7, the connection between thetwo sides of the condenser' 7 5 is broken, and said condenser thenbecomes charged, since the two sides thereof are then in connection withsources of dierent electrical potential. rllhe charging of the condenser7 5 causes a momentary flow of current through the coil 74.

When the west line-circuit is again closed at the operators key 77', thetransmittermagnet lV is renergized, the armature-lever 3 is therebyreturned to normal position, and the apparatus is restored throughout tothe normal condition thereof. rIhe return of the apparatus to normalcondition involves certain actions, however, which should be consideredin detail. After the closing of the west line-circuit and while thetransmitter-magnet 1 is being renergized, but before the armature-lever3 is moved thereby, the current of the west linecircuit passes throughthe short-circuit or shunt provided by the shunt-key 56, instead ofpassing through the tumbler-magnet coil and thereby energizing saidtumblermagnet. The renergiza-tion of said tumbler-magnet is thus delayeduntil the shuntkey 56 is re-opened at the completion'of the returnmovement of the armature-lever 3, and meanwhile the east line-circuit isclosed at the repeating-key 7 and a flow of current thus commencedthrough the coil 65. Were it not for the action of the shunt-key, themagnet 65 would begin to be renergized prior to the magnet 65, therebytending to move the tumbler-mechanism away from the west-controlposition thereof; and if the tumbler-mechanism were moved withsuflicient rapidity the lever 122 might be caused to strike the lug 112and retard the return movement of the armature-lever 3. The operation ofthe tumbler-mechanism is also aected more or less by the condensers. Asbefore mentioned, the opening of the repeating-key 7 results in chargingof the condenser 75, and so upon the closing of said key the condenseris discharged and again causes a momentary flow of current through thecoil 74. l The discharge of the condenser occurs at such a time that itmay assist the east line-current in renergizing the tumbler-magnet 65,and thus tend to prevent movement of the tumbler-mechanism away from thewest-control position thereof.

rll`he apparatus is operative without the use of the condensers 75, 75,but it has been found that the action of the condensers suppressescertain unnecessary and undesirable movements of the tumbler-mechanismduring the transmission of signals by the repeater, and causes thet1unbler-inechanism to remain inert after its initial movement to thewest-control or east-control position, accordingly as the westline-circuit or the east line-circuit is opened at a time when the otheris closed.

lt will be obvious that the opening of the east line-circuit at anypoint other than the repeating-key 7, will interrupt the sending ofsignals from the west-line-circuit through the repeating-station,because after such opening of the east line the next closure of the westline-circuit will result in reversing the position of thetumbler-mechanism, which will give the control of the apparatus to theeastern operator by permitting opening of the west line-circuit at therepeatingstation. lt will also be apparent that the action of therepeating mechanism is fully reversible, or that an operator at anystation on the east line-circuit can cause signals to be transmittedthrough the repeating-station to the west line-circuit, the variousoperations of the repeating instrument being the same as hereinbeforedescribed but being made by the opposite parts thereof.

When desired, or when necessitated by adverse operating conditions, theshunt-relays R, lt may be made use of to increase the sensitiveness, asa whole, of the mechanism at the repeating-station. Said shunt-relaysare placed in operation by inserting the wedges 8l, 8l in the,spring-jacks 80, 80, and as the circuit-connections thereby establishedhave been hereinbefore described, it will be suiiicient to point outhere the actions resulting .from the introduction of said instruments.Assuming, as before, that an operator on the west line-circuit openssaid circuit, the magnets 83 of the shunt-relay It will quickly respondto the reduction of current in said circuit, and the armature till willbe released. The first slight movement of the armature 84 will permitthe key S5 to engage the contact-screw 86', thus shunting theline-circuit through the conductor to, and immediately thereafter thecontinued movement. of the armature will disengage the same from thekey, so that the alternative connection through the transmitter-magnet lis broken, and said transmittermagnet is thus instantly removed from thecircuit. By such complete cutting-out of the transmittermagnet from thecircuit, the denergization thereof occurs with rapidity, and muchgreater fluctuations of its magnetization are made available for use inactuating its armature-lever and the repating-key and shuntkey which itcontrols. Moreover, the reduced resistance in the line-circuit, due tcthe removal of the transmitter-magnet therefrom, enables the current insaid circuit to build up more rapidly when the circuit is again closedby the sending operator. The increased current is then suddenly divertedto again pass through the transmitter-magnet, as the shunt-relay resumesits normal position and opens the key after first restoring theconnection between said key and the armature 84.

The fluctuations of current in the east linecircuit will cause similaroperations vof the shunt-relay R, which will thus alternately removefrom and introduce into said circuit the resistance of thetransmitter-magnet l, so that the pulsations of current in the east orreceiving-circuit will be greater than if caused only by the opening andclosing of said circuit by the repeating-key 7.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides arepeating mechanism of relatively simple construction, employingdirect-repeating transmitters which are actuated solely by energyderived from the connected main-line circuits; and that it is notessential to the operation of the repeating mechanism to have eitherlocal or main-line batteries or generators located at therepeating-station. Thus my repeater can be installed at any station,without regard to the provision at such station of batteries orgenerators, it being merely necessary that the connected line-circuitshave suitable generators at the terminal-stations thereof.

The local batteries B, B, hereinbefore mentioned, are not involved inthe operation of the repeating mechanism, as such, but are used onlywhen the two line-circuits are not operatively connected by therepeating instrument. Cutting apart of the line-circuits is affected byturning the cams 72, 72 so as to press the tumbler-levers down to p0-sitions at which they will not interfere with the movements of thearmature-levers 3, 3'; and reversing the positions of the triple-poleswitches, so that the blades of said switches engage the contact-posts36, 37, 88, 36', 37 andl 38', as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1.By movement of the switches to said positions, the repeating-key 7 andcontact-screw l0 are removed from the east line circuit, and areconnected in a local soundercircuit through the battery B, sounder 82',binding-post 26, switch-contact 36, switchblade 27, key 7, contact-screw10, switchblade 28, switch-contact 37, and binding-post 25; while theline-circuit, instead of passing to the repeating-key through theswitchcontact 34 and switch-blade 28, passes through the switch-blade 29and switch-contact 38 directly to ground. The other switch causes likeconnections to be formed between the repeating-key 7 and sounder 82,removing said repeating-key from the west line-circuit and connectingsaid circuit through the switch-contact 38 to ground. When the describedconnections are established, the repeating-keys operate as relay-contactfor controlling the local soundercircuits, and an operator at thcrepeatingstation may use the key 79 to communicate with stations on theeast line-circuit, or use the key 79 to communicate with stations on thewest line-circuit. The repeating-station operator may thus test theoperation of each line-circuit independently of the other, and adjusteach of the repeating-transmitters for proper operation on theline-circuit with which it is connected. The repeatingstation operator,having both sides of the repeating instrument in proper adjustment, maythen reverse the positions of the triplepole switches, turn the cams 72, 72 so as to release the tumbler-meclianism, and then test theoperation of the repeating mechanism as a whole, using either of thekeys 79, 79, and making any final adjustment that may be necessary.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. The combination with two line-circuits, of transmitters connected onein each circuit and each adapted to open and close the other circuit,members movable to positions at which they will prevent movement of therespective transmitters to circuit-opening position, and means actuateddirectly by energy from the line-circuits for actuating said members.

2. The combination with two normallyclosed main line-circuits, oftransmitters connected one in each of said circuits and each adapted toopen and close the other circuit, and means actuated directly by energyfrom said line-circuits for preventing movement of each of thetransmitters to circuit- 106 opening position when the other transmitteris inI circuit-opening position.

3. The combination with two main telegraphing circuits, of transmittersconnected one in each of said circuits, each transmitter 110 controllingcontacts for' opening and closing the other circuit, and means inconnection with and actuated by enery from each circuit to preventmovement of the transmitter in said circuit to circuit-opening positionwhen the other circuit is open.

el. In a telegraphic repeating mechanism, the combination with twoline-circuits, of transmitters connected one in each line-circuit, eachtransmitter being actuated by energy from its respective line-circuitand being adapted to open and close the other line-circuit, and meansactuated directly by energy from the respective line-circuits forselectively preventing movements of the transmitters in accordance withthe Origin of current variations in the line-circuits.

5. In a telegraphic repeater, paired sets of apparatus, each setincluding a transmitter-magnet, an armature-lever actuated by saidmagnet, a repeatingkey and a shuntkey actuated `by movements oft saidarmature-lever, and a tumbler-magnet connected electrically with thetransmitter-magnet, circuits connecting each repeatingkey with thetransmitter-magnet of the other set of apparatus, electrical connectingmeans between each shunt-key and the tumbler-magnet of the other' set ofapparatus, and tumblermechanism controlled by the tumbler-magnets andadapted to limit selectively the movements of the armature-levers.

(3. In a telegraphic repeating apparatus, the combination with twoline-circuits, of transmitters connected one in each line-cir cuit andeach adapted to open and close the other line-circuit, tumbler-magnetsconnected one in each line-circuit, tumblerlevers actuated by thetumbler-magnets and each adapted to limit movement o'l one of thetransmitters, and a key actuated by each transmitter and controlling ashunt for the tumbler-magnet of the circuit through the respectivetransmitter.

7. lln a telegraphic repeater, a line-circuit, a transmitter having anelectromagnet connected in said circuit, and a relay in said circuitadapted to remove the transmitter- :magnet from the circuit upon adecrease of current therein, and restore the transmittern magnet to thecircuit upon an increase of curr ant therein.

8. ln a telegraphic repeating apparatus, two line-circuits, atransmitter controlled by one line-circuit and adapted to open and closethe second line-circuit, stopping means for preventing movement of thetransmitter to circuit-opening position, and means actuated by energyfrom the second linecircuit for moving the stopping means to release thetransmitter when the circuit controlling said transmitter is openedprior to opening of the second line-circuit.

9. ln a telegraphic repeating apparatus, the combination with twoline-circuits, of transmitters in each line-circuit, each adapted toopen and close the other line-circuit, tumbler-magnets in eachline-circuit, tumbler-levers actuated by the tumbler-mag nets and eachadapted to limit movement of one of the transmitters, an auxiliarywinding for each tumbler-magnet, and condensers connected so as to bedischarged through said auxiliary windings upon movement of therespective transmitters to circuitclosing position.

10. ln a telegraphic apparatus, an electromagnet, an armature adapted tobe actuated by said electromagnet, a key arranged to be engaged andactuated by said armature, a contact normally engaged by said key, thekey being disengageable from said contact by continued movement of thearmature after the same engages the key, a 1ine-circuit connectedthrough said electromagnet to the key, and separate connections from thearmature and from the key-contact for completing said line-circuit,whereby movements of the armature will establish the line-circuitalternately through said connections without opening `the circuit.

11. ln a telegraphic repeating instrument, the combination with twoline-circuits, of a transmitter for each circuit, each transmitterhaving contacts forming part of the other circuit whereby the circuitsare reciprocally openable, a stop device having a gravita tional bias topositions at which itwill prevent mo-vement'ot one or the other transmitter to circuit-opening position, and means actuated directly by energyfrom said linecircuits to selectively control said stop device.

12. ln a telegraphic repeating instrument, two line-circuits,transmitters connected one in each line-circuit, each transmitter havingand actuating a single movable contact connected in and adapted. to makeand break the line-circuit through the other transmitter, a stop movableto positions for preventing either transmitter from acuating its contactto open the line-circuit through the other, and means actuatabledirectly by energy from each line-circuit to move the stop.

13. In a telegraphic repeating apparatus, the combination with twoline-circuits, of two transmitters connected in said circuits and eachactuatable by energy from its respective circuit to open and close theother' circuit, said transmitters being normally in circuit-closingposition, a stop device mov able to and normally positioned at one oftwo blocking positions at which it will retain the respectivetransmitters at normal position, and means actuatable by energy from therespective line-circuits each to actuate the stop device to or retainthe same at its blocking position with respect to the transmitteractuated from the same circuit.

14. In a telegraphic repeating apparatus, line-circuits, a transmitterfor each circuit connected therein and actuated by energy therefrom andcontrolling contacts connected in the other circuit whereby the lattermay be opened and closed, each circuit constituting a sending-circuitwith respect to the other as a receiving-circuit, a mechanical stopdevice movable to blocking positions such as to prevent movement of therespective transmitters to circuit-opening position, and electricalactuating means for the stop device connected with the circuits so thatenergy from the receiving-circuit will move the stop to the blockingposition for the transmitter in the receiving-circuit upon opening ofthe sending-circuit.

15. In a telegraphic repeating apparatus, line-circuits, a transmitterfor each circuit connected therein and actuated by energy therefrom andcontrolling contacts connected in the other circuit Whereby the lattermay be opened and closed, each circuit constituting a sending-circuitwith respect to theother'asa receiving-circuit, a stop device movable toblocking positionssuchv as to mechanically prevent movement of therespectivetransmitters to circuit-opening position, electricalactuatingmeans for the stop device connected with'the circuits so thatenergy from the receiving-circuit will movc the stop tothe blockingposition for the transmitter inv the receiving-circuit upon opening' ofthe sendingscircuit, and means for applying energy from thesending-circuit to retain the stop in blocking position with respect tothe receiving-circuit transmitter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed iny name in the presenceof two witnesses.

` A. D. TAYLOR. litnesses z D. O. BARNELL, A. W. JAMmsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents cach, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

